District Administration articles from January 2003

District Administration archives from January 2003

Reversing frustration. (Editor's Letter).(positive aspects of No Child Left Behind Act)(Editorial)
January 1, 2003... Let's play a word association game. I'll write something and when you read it, record the first thought that comes to your mind. Here goes: No Child Left Behind. OK, be honest, how many of you immediately flashed to one of the...

Florida educators know what it means to be accountable. (District plus: tips and ideas for successful district leadership).(five achievement levels to be met)
January 1, 2003... In U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige's back-to-school speech last fall, he noted that Florida rewards high-quality schools and places sanctions on those that tend to fall down. And even failing schools are getting better with each passing...

Taking aim at attendance. (District plus: tips and ideas for successful district leadership).(students rewarded for perfect attendance)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Deer season is a big deal in Missouri--so big that some students tend to skip class to hunt down the best buck. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That's our attitude," says Dan Vandiver, principal at Twin Rivers High School in Broseley, Mo....

Which came first, the principal or the school? (District plus: tips and ideas for successful district leadership).(Beaufort County recruiting principals before schools are built)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Start early. That's the philosophy at Beaufort County (S.C.) Schools, which is now filling principal vacancies for schools not yet built. Rather than take a few years to really get going, new schools can begin at "full speed" when principals...

Textbooks in line with Virginia. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(Harcourt School Publishers and Scott Foresman and Co.)(supplements to be issued)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Harcourt School Publishers and Scott Foresman agreed to issue supplements to bring K-3 history textbooks in line with Virginia's Standards of Learning for history and social science, according to a story from the Times Dispatch. Major...

Administrators given own special interest. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(promote using instructional technologies)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The International Society for Technology in Education has created the Special Interest Group for Administrators to support principals and other education leaders to promote using instructional technologies to increase student learning. ...

Florida voters call for universal pre-K, smaller classes. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(pre-kindergarten)
January 1, 2003... The votes are in. In the first ballot initiative for voluntary universal pre-K in the U.S., Florida voters gave 59 percent approval for constitutional Amendment 8, requiring districts to offer the option of free pre-K for all four-year-olds....

Bilingual stays in Colorado, out in Massachusetts. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(bilingual education )
January 1, 2003... Massachusetts voters rejected bilingual education. Colorado voters want to keep it. On Election Day, Massachusetts voters chose to have their students enter all English classes starting in the fall. Colorado voters instead want to stick...

Washington parents pay for teachers. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(district budget cuts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Parents in the Eastside district of Mercer Island, Wash., are paying for two part-time certified teachers as districts struggle with budget cuts. In Issaquah, parents at two elementary schools recently raised money for teachers in the...

Facts on 'net help steer kids to say "no". (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(www.teengetgoing.com)(program to curb teen drinking and drug use)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... It's called Teen Getgoing and it's a new treatment program to curb teen drinking and drug use. A California health care company, CRC Health Corp., created and launched the new Web-based treatment program with the support of former White...

Chicago teachers won't give exam. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(Chicago Academic Standards Exam)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... About 12 Chicago teachers have refused to give an achievement exam this month. They say the exam is flawed and not valid. In November, the group of teachers at Curie High School refused to give the Chicago Academic Standards Exam, developed...

North Chicago leader goes west. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(Patricia Pickles accepts Portland, Oregon position)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... North Chicago Supt. Patricia Pickles left her post in November to take over academics in Portland, Ore. After bringing academics to a higher level in one of Illinois' poorest districts, Pickles is now chief academic officer in Portland...

Computer visionary dies. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(Antonia Stone)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Antonia Stone, a 20-year veteran teacher of prep-school mathematics and advocate for the poor and imprisoned, died in late November in Watertown, Mass. The New Canaan, Conn., native was 72. About 20 years ago, Stone criticized the...

Urban woes: are school boards the problem? (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... It's a question that is nearly as old as the chicken-and-the-egg conundrum. What makes urban school systems fail--superintendents or the school boards that oversee them? While this debate has been going on for decades, the latest salvo...

Texans talk of ban for sex book. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(It's Perfectly Normal: A Book about Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... An award-winning sex education book that was published eight years ago and has more than 650,000 copies in 17 languages worldwide stirred up a potential ban in a Texas community. Since 1995, four copies of It's Perfectly Normal: A Book...

Lower math scores: who's to blame? (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(high school students computation skills down )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Another report criticizing the skills of high school students has been released, this one saying that 17-year-olds' computation skills have markedly declined in the last decade. But this report, from the Brown Center on Education Policy,...

Changes in publishing world. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(publisher Houghton Mifflin Co. sold)(Sunburst Technology purchased by Thayer Capital Partners)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Houghton Mifflin Co. was recently sold to help reduce debt incurred by the previous parent company, Vivendi Universal. Around the same time, Thayer Capital Partners acquired Sunburst Technology, a Houghton Mifflin division and supplier of...

After-school enrichment passes. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(California act to provide after-school programs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... California kids won't just be heading to the streets or beach after school. The After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002, designed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, was voted in by California residents last fall, meaning programs will be...

LA parents talk of the "U" word. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(Los Angeles group favors parents' union)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... A few parents in Los Angeles USD are considering a union. Bill Ring, a father of two, recently launched an online message board for LAUSD parents. Ring wants to organize leadership around the district to focus on a "common platform so we...

Does NCLB go too far? (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations).(No Child Left Behind Act)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Classrooms will get over-crowded. More teachers will be needed. And more portable classrooms will make their way on to school campuses. These are some of the likely consequences of the No Child Left Behind law--when parents me their right...

A turtle teaches cyberspace ethics. (Government spotlight: the latest news about education from the U.S. government).
January 1, 2003... Worried that computer-savvy kids are growing up with little guidance on how to be good online citizens, the federal government is introducing a friendly new mentor for the Internet generation. Meet "Dewie the Turtle," the mascot for a plan...

Tough words elicit NCLB defense. (Government spotlight: the latest news about education from the U.S. government).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Some education officials are dismayed over Secretary Paige's tough words that warn states not to lower performance standards to skirt the No Child Left Behind Act. In an October letter, Paige stated that some states were lowering...

Learning Chinese electronically. (Government spotlight: the latest news about education from the U.S. government).(U.S and China; E-Language Project )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The U.S. and China are building an e-language project that will use Web-based technology to help students and educators learn a second language first in English and Chinese. U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige and Zhou Ji, vice minister of...

The turn-around queen: Cleveland's leader, one of the highest paid superintendents, earns her keep by setting the foundation for student learning. (Administrator profile: Barbara Byrd-Bennett).
January 1, 2003... She misses the pizza. She misses her family, and her hairstylist. There is much to miss about any home, but Barbara Byrd-Bennett s home happens to be New York City. In Cleveland there is no Lincoln Center, no childhood memories of Harlem,...

Illuminated about equity: this large Georgia district, has taken the lead in meeting Title IX regulations. (District profile: Clayton County, Georgia).(gender equity rules)(facilities and services for both sexes must be equal)
January 1, 2003... Ronnie Blake remembers the first thing he did. He punched into the Internet search engine "gender equity." A few weeks later, the assistant superintendent of the Clayton County school district had a three-inch-thick notebook from that one...

Power to lead: seasoned administrators share strategies for identifying and encouraging potential leaders. (Cover Story).
January 1, 2003... At Jefferson County Public School District in Louisville, Ken., administrator staff meetings can at times evolve into a superintendent's covert operation. Stephen Daeschner admits that he'll get "a little bit sneaky" if there seem to be too...

One state's quest for excellence: starting with the sometimes overlooked library media center.
January 1, 2003... A 21st century student might have a hard time appreciating pre-Civil War history. So through the story of Aindreas the Messenger, written by Gerald McDaniel, one media specialist hopes to bring the story alive for students in an AP American...

Keeping safe staying smart: Internet filters may help your district meet the recent federal guidelines, but you may be missing a chance to teach students how to use the Web responsibly.
January 1, 2003... On the evening of May 19, 2002, 13-year-old Christina Long was dropped off at the local Danbury, Conn., mall by her aunt. When her aunt, whom she lived with, came to pick her up, she wasn't there. Her body was found several days later. The...

Share and share alike. (News)(Special section: presentation systems).(using multimedia projectors)
January 1, 2003... A study conducted on multimedia projectors is putting a sharper focus on how the teaching tools are being used in classrooms. The marketing study, conducted by a manufacturer of projectors, found that many school districts are using the...

Changing vocational ed. (News)(Special section: presentation systems).(using interactive technology)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... On any given day at Wayne County High School in Jesup, Ga., vocational students might learn everything from auto mechanics to basic nursing to secretarial skills. But upon graduation, these 650 students will likely have an edge over their...

Seeing clearly: multimedia stations allow teachers to engage an entire classroom on a subject, using the Internet, DVDs and PhotoShop through a projector. (Special section: presentation systems).
January 1, 2003... Seeing a teacher who's comfortable using a multimedia projector and all the associated hardware and software is like watching a master chef whip up a spectacular meal--amazing to watch, but the real pleasure is in the synergistic results. ...

Lighting the dark ages: electronic whiteboards allow teachers to break the antiquated classroom model and make interactive learning an everyday habit. (Special section: presentation systems).
January 1, 2003... Blackboards may be entering the dustbin of educational history as school districts across the nation are eschewing chalk dust for advanced interactive whiteboards that can capture notes, copy them and save them for later postings to Web sites....

Presentation systems buyer's guide: rely on this easy-to-use supplier guide for information on presentation systems products for higher education. (Special section: presentation systems).(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2003... Bulletin Display Systems cTech Electronics, Inc. (TEi) 6420 Atlantic Blvd., Suite 145 Norcross, GA 30071 770-446-1416 phone 800-572-4935 toll free 770-448-5724 fax www.techelec.com email: salesteam@techelec.com ...

Simulations cut into dissection. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).(computer alternatives)
January 1, 2003... A long accepted--sometimes dreaded--rite of passage for high school science students may be losing its luster. The act of taking a scalpel to a frog or fetal pig has long been questioned by some students on ethical grounds. But now, with more...

"Civil rights": covering the black movement and more. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).(other groups now included)
January 1, 2003... Once upon a classroom, studying civil rights meant reading about Brown v. Board of Education and Birmingham, Ala.'s sit ins. Lessons today are often expanded to include oral histories and other primary research presented through active learning...

Grant to swat math problem-solving bugs. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Math education researchers have studied how kids solve computational problems, from the mental models they use to visualize multiplication or how they see these problems as repeated addition, to the predictable errors they make in using...

Study: expand language learning for Down's children. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).(maintaining comprehension skills important)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Does language learning end during the teen years for children with Down's syndrome? Studies in the past 10 years have claimed it does. As a result, educator expectations of these students' grammar, speaking and reading abilities may be lower....

Leave an impression on groundhog day: online resources can support and enhance job-site career programs. .
January 1, 2003... For thousands of students, Groundhog Day each Feb. 2 has a special meaning beyond Punxsutawney Phil looking for his shadow. On that day, school districts across the country offer "job shadow" programs where students spend time on job sites with...

Why's the weather? Scripts, curriculum fillers and a lack of vigorous thought are only three of the things wrong with schools today. (speaking out).
January 1, 2003... How's the weather? Such a question is usually satisfied with a simple, quick, response like, "fine" or "cold." The question, "What was the last time your discussed the rationale for what you teach?" may also be answered with one word....

Career-long training, onsite and online. (new products).
January 1, 2003... Isolation and frustration are common feelings among new teachers, and administrators are all too aware that negative first-year experiences can cause teacher turnover. The New Teacher Academy, launched by a non-profit arm of Teachers College,...

Lightspeed systems: Total Traffic Control 3.0. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.ligtspeedsystems.com, Software, $3,995-$6,995 This network traffic management tool has been enhanced with version 3.0. The software's reporting functions aim to help school administrators identify and address issues that affect...

NICSI: NICSI Mountain. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.nicsimountain.com, Manipulatives, $249 NICSI (Now I Can See It) Mountain aims to teach counting, computation, fractions, proportions, data analysis and other math skills to students in kindergarten to ninth grade. The pyramid-like...

Califone: Deluxe PowerPro PA-750. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.califone.com, Hardware, $1,295-$2,878 This speaker system features a built-in cassette recorder, and CD player in an all-in-one unit on wheels. Designed for presentations in large groups, the system can include (depending on user...

O'Reilly: Mac OS X: the Missing Manual, Second Edition. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.oreilly.com, Book, $29.95 Apple's new Jaguar operating system contains 150 new features and is more customizable than its predecessor, Mac OS X. To help users master these changes, author David Pogue has re-written and expanded his...

eSembler/Premio computer: eSembler/School Messenger suite. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.esembler.com, Internet service, One-time licensing cost average $1.25-$2.70 per student Premio's eSembler can now communicate student information to SchoolMessenger, allowing educators to deliver telephone messages to parents about...

Panasonic: AG-527DVDE. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.panasonic.com, Hardware, $835 The AG-527DVDE is a 27-inch TV, DVD and VHS VCR combination unit. Besides traditional VHS tapes. and DVD discs, it offers a variety of play options, including DVD-R, Video CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3. Users can...

Crosstec Corp.: NetOp School v2.5. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.NetOpUSA.com, Software, $179-$1,210 The latest version of this network classroom software allows independent work groups to be created within a class. Teachers can also assign group leaders to each work group, while still retaining full...

Playstages: education package. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.playstages.com, Manipulatives, $450 Playstages materials aim to support language learning, character education and story telling while fostering creativity and expression in classrooms and afterschool programs of all grade levels. The...

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic: Audio Plus digitally recorded textbooks. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.rfbd.org, books on CD, $300 (25 titles) to $800 (100 titles) per year Visually impaired or learning disabled students have more access to textbooks and other educational materials with the release of digitally recorded textbooks on CD...

Polyester: Firefly. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.polyester.com, Software, Single user $49,30 users $659,50 users $899 This Windows-based application for K8 students is designed to simplify the citing, collection and classification of Web-based information. Students use it to help...

APTE: Internet Coach Digital Photo Activity Kit--Bilingual edition. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.apte.com, Software, $64.95 The Digital Photo Activity Kit--Bilingual Version aims to: help strengthen children's writing, language and bilingual abilities; develop spatial relationship skills; and promote essential technology literacy....

Mandarin library automation: Mandarin M3 Version 1.5. (new products).
January 1, 2003... www.mlasolutions.com, Software, $3,500 first year site license New features of the Mandarin M3 library automation solution include the ability to: display graphic images in the patron and item panes in Circulation; simultaneously search...

Dukane: DVP505 digital presenter. .(CIRCLE #518)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... www.dukane.com, Hardware, $3,245 The DVP505 is a digital presenter with a high-resolution color camera on a moveable extendable arm mounted over a stage with a back-light. There are also lights on arms located on each side of the stage for...

Emerald data solutions: BoardDocs. .(CIRCLE #520)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... www.boarddocs.com, Software, $1,000 per month for online subscription (BoardDocs standard, installed on site, costs $15,000$22,000 for implementation, plus $3,000 annual fee) Developed for administrators and school boards, BoardDocs...

iAssessment: Gateway Presentation System. .(CIRCLE #519 )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... www.iassessment.com, Internet, Typical district fees (for system that includes entire framework): $5,000 set-up, plus license costs ($4-$15 per user/year) GPS is a Web portal that helps organize and manage a district's online resources....

Correction.(Tignanello)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2003... On page 62 of the November issue, the price of eSchoolMall's Internet-based procurement system was incorrect. The site's base offering cost is approximately $1 per student, per year, with each installation unique to the district's current...

Calendar of events.(February - June 2003.)(Calendar)
January 1, 2003... FEBRUARY 2003 Florida Educational Technology Conference FETC www.fetc.org February 4-6 Orlando, Fla. American Association of School Administrators Annual Conference AASA ...

The coming of the tablet PC: will these be the little computers that transform education? .
January 1, 2003... Roger Fidler predicted the future of computing more than 20 years ago. The recent slate of tablet PCs is evidence that Fidler's vision has begun to arrive. Fidler is probably not even on the list of names that come to mind when you think...